*** This version of Confluence is for testing only and contains a copy of content from June 29th 2026. No changes will be preserved. ***
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In multiple AguaClara plants in Honduras, it is has been noted that there is a film foam formation at the point of rapid mix in the first baffles of the flocculator. However to date it is unknown how or why the film foam is formed. During the summer of 2009, our team will run experiments in order to replicate the film foam formed in these plants while also identifying the cause of the film foam formation.
We will first vary the alum dosage because research supports that surface foam can be attributed to the overdosing of aluminum sulfate. Additionally, the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) has been proven to lower surface tension in water, thus creating a surface film foam. The location of the alum addition is also thought to effect the film foam formation. This is because in small quantities, alum precipitates air is entrained and the alum becomes less dense than water.
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aluminum
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sulfate
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dissolves in water and
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the aluminum begins to precipitate as aluminum hydroxide
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which is less dense than water.
List of Parameters
In our rapid mix experiment we plan to vary the following independent variables:
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